Italian club’s Champions League qualification activated the obligation to make the Dane’s loan move permanent for €44m
Rasmus Hojlund has said he is emotional and it feels strange to officially say goodbye to Manchester United after his move to Napoli was made permanent.
Napoli secured qualification for next season’s Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Pisa. The result activated the obligation in Hojlund’s loan agreement to complete a permanent €44m move from United.
The Denmark international joined Napoli on loan at the end of last summer’s transfer window and has since rebuilt his confidence in Italy after a mixed spell at Old Trafford.
After Sunday’s win Hojlund reflected on the moment in a message posted on Instagram alongside a photo of his goal celebration.
“This goal felt symbolic because it means two things,” Hojlund said. “We now secured Champions League with Napoli, which means because of my contract I’m now officially a Napoli player and I’m saying goodbye to Manchester United.
“That feels weird, because for the past year I already feel like a Napoli player. The way you fans supported me, made me feel like home and let me find my confidence again is something I’m so grateful for.”
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But Hojlund also paid tribute to Manchester United, saying his time at the club fulfilled his lifelong ambition.
“To say goodbye to Manchester United is something that kinda feels emotional too,” Hojlund added. “My childhood dream came true by playing at Old Trafford in a red jersey.
“So the goal today symbolizes a new confident start, in which I will give everything for the time ahead to Napoli, and a thank you to all the fans, players and staff of Manchester United who made the dream I had as a kid come true. It’s time for new dreams, so let’s chase them.”
Hojlund joined United in 2023 and scored 26 goals across two seasons in England. He has scored 15 goals for Napoli in Serie A so far this season.
